So close to his person that some of the Barons waxed very envious thereat.
And thus it came about that Messer Marco Polo had knowledge of, or had
actually visited, a greater number of the different countries of the World
than any other man; the more that he was always giving his mind to get
knowledge, and to spy out and enquire into everything in order to have
matter to relate to the Lord.
CHAPTER XVII.
HOW MESSER NICOLO, MESSER MAFFEO, AND MESSER MARCO, ASKED LEAVE OF THE
GREAT KAAN TO GO THEIR WAY.
When the Two Brothers and Mark had abode with the Lord all that time that
you have been told [having meanwhile acquired great wealth in jewels and
gold], they began among themselves to have thoughts about returning to
their own country; and indeed it was time. [For, to say nothing of the
length and infinite perils of the way, when they considered the Kaan's
great age, they doubted whether, in the event of his death before their
departure, they would ever be able to get home.[NOTE 1]] They applied to
him several times for leave to go, presenting their request with great
respect, but he had such a partiality for them, and liked so much to have
them about him, that nothing on earth would persuade him to let them go.
Now it came to pass in those days that the Queen BOLGANA, wife of ARGON,
Lord of the Levant, departed this life. And in her Will she had desired
that no Lady should take her place, or succeed her as Argon's wife, except
one of her own family [which existed in Cathay]. Argon therefore
despatched three of his Barons, by name respectively OULATAY, APUSCA, and
COJA, as ambassadors to the Great Kaan, attended by a very gallant
company, in order to bring back as his bride a lady of the family of Queen
Bolgana, his late wife.[NOTE 2]
When these three Barons had reached the Court of the Great Kaan, they
delivered their message, explaining wherefore they were come. The Kaan
received them with all honour and hospitality, and then sent for a lady
whose name was COCACHIN, who was of the family of the deceased Queen
Bolgana. She was a maiden of 17, a very beautiful and charming person, and
on her arrival at Court she was presented to the three Barons as the Lady
chosen in compliance with their demand. They declared that the Lady
pleased them well.[NOTE 3]
Meanwhile Messer Marco chanced to return from India, whither he had gone
as the Lord's ambassador, and made his report of all the different things
that he had seen in his travels, and of the sundry seas over which he had
voyaged. And the three Barons, having seen that Messer Nicolo, Messer
Maffeo, and Messer Marco were not only Latins, but men of marvellous good
sense withal, took thought among themselves to get the three to travel
with them, their intention being to return to their country by sea, on
account of the great fatigue of that long land journey for a lady. And the
ambassadors were the more desirous to have their company, as being aware
that those three had great knowledge and experience of the Indian Sea and
the countries by which they would have to pass, and especially Messer
Marco. So they went to the Great Kaan, and begged as a favour that he
would send the three Latins with them, as it was their desire to return
home by sea.
The Lord, having that great regard that I have mentioned for those three
Latins, was very loath to do so [and his countenance showed great
dissatisfaction]. But at last he did give them permission to depart,
enjoining them to accompany the three Barons and the Lady.
NOTE 1. - Pegolotti, in his chapters on mercantile ventures to Cathay,
refers to the dangers to which foreigners were always liable on the death
of the reigning sovereign. (See Cathay, p. 292.)
NOTE 2. - Several ladies of the name of BULUGHAN ("Zibellina") have a place
in Mongol-Persian history. The one here indicated, a lady of great beauty
and ability, was known as the Great Khatun (or Lady) Bulughan, and was
(according to strange Mongol custom) the wife successively of Abaka and of
his son ARGHUN, the Argon of the text, Mongol sovereign of Persia. She
died on the banks of the Kur in Georgia, 7th April, 1286. She belonged to
the Mongol tribe of Bayaut, and was the daughter of Hulaku's Chief
Secretary Gugah. (Ilchan. I. 374 et passim; Erdmann's Temudschin, p.
216.)
The names of the Envoys, ULADAI, APUSHKA, and KOJA, are all names met with
in Mongol history. And Rashiduddin speaks of an Apushka of the Mongol
Tribe of Urnaut, who on some occasion was sent as Envoy to the Great Kaan
from Persia, - possibly the very person. (See Erdmann, 205.)
Of the Lady Cocachin we shall speak below.
NOTE 3. - Ramusio here has the following passage, genuine no doubt: "So
everything being ready, with a great escort to do honour to the bride of
King Argon, the Ambassadors took leave and set forth. But after travelling
eight months by the same way that they had come, they found the roads
closed, in consequence of wars lately broken out among certain Tartar
Princes; so being unable to proceed, they were compelled to return to the
Court of the Great Kaan."
CHAPTER XVIII.
HOW THE TWO BROTHERS AND MESSER MARCO TOOK LEAVE OF THE GREAT KAAN, AND
RETURNED TO THEIR OWN COUNTRY.
And when the Prince saw that the Two Brothers and Messer Marco were ready
to set forth, he called them all three to his presence, and gave them two
golden Tablets of Authority, which should secure them liberty of passage
through all his dominions, and by means of which, whithersoever they
should go, all necessaries would be provided for them, and for all their
company, and whatever they might choose to order.[NOTE 1] He charged them
also with messages to the King of France, the King of England,[NOTE 2] the
King of Spain, and the other kings of Christendom.
